Saturday, May 20, 1 - 4 p.m. Sunday, May 21 - Tuesday, May 23, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center Hall D (Level 2)
The International Participants Center (IPC) is designed to enhance the conference experience for participants with Global Health interests, while contemporaneously highlighting ATS’ involvement in International Activities. The IPC acknowledges the interconnectedness of our world and allows for distinguished professionals to connect on an international level. The IPC provides a welcoming environment for participants to network, connect with colleagues, and even just relax while waiting for the next session. Specific to the IPC, the studio talks give attendees the opportunity to hear different perspectives on how to tackle common problems across the globe.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS CENTER SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Sunday, May 21
The Global Asthma Report: Lessons Learnt From a Global Survey 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
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The Global Asthma Report: Lessons Learnt From a Global Survey
Description: A panel Discussion on asthma with perspectives from a diverse group of global organizations on asthma epidemiology, management, and asthma care. The discussion will highlight the findings of the recently published Global Asthma Report 2022 and some important papers published in the last year on global asthma epidemiology, risk factors and asthma management from the Global Asthma Network in children, adolescents, and adults. Key aspect covered will also include the positioning of asthma treatment globally in relation to the Global Initiative of Asthma strategy in low to middle income countries and research and unmet needs in asthma management and research.
Asthma is the most common non-communicable disease in children and second most common in adults and yet asthma morbidity and even mortality still occurs in marginalized communities in high income countries and also in low to middle income countries. An understanding of the research priorities, our current understanding of asthma as a priority disease is the focus of this symposium and future strategies to improve asthma care.
Learning Outcomes: An understanding of the global asthma epidemiology, current gaps in asthma research from epidemiology, risk factors and management. Participants will also get a perspective on the current strategies by multiple global asthma groups to improve asthma care, particularly in communities with lower resources in high and low to middle income countries.
Panel Discussion Program:
Chairs: Samya Z. Nasr, MD, ATSF; Richard N. Van Zyl Smit, MBChB, PhD, ATSF
The Global Asthma Report 2022: What Are the Key Lessons
This talk will cover some of the key messages from the GAR 2022 and policy implications for the report and implementation plans to improve global asthma care.
Professor Refiloe Masekela (co-Chair GAN: South Africa)
GINA and Applicability to Lower Resources Settings
This talk will cover the positioning of GINA strategy on asthma management in low resourced settings and research gaps with regards to asthma care in these settings and the GINA view of ensuring equitable access to asthma care globally
Professor Helen Reddel (Chair GINA: New Zealand)
Asthma Roadmap to 2030: GARD Perspective
This talk will cover the key priorities for the WHO on asthma care in low to middle income countries for the SGD 2030 deadline and current implementation plans of the Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD) to achieve better asthma care globally.
Professor Arzu Yorgancioglu (Chair GARD: Turkey)
Leadership Skills for Early Career Researchers in LMICs – Tips From the MECOR Program Leaders 1 - 2 p.m.
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Leadership Skills for Early Career Researchers in LMICs – Tips From the MECOR Program Leaders
Description: This session will address important leadership skills that are need for succeeding in academic careers with a focus on the particularities of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where lack of resources and structured career paths require an individualized approach and where leadership training is rarely available. The chairs and speakers are faculty of the ATS MECOR program and will bring their experience in building research capacity in LMICs to the discussion.
Learning Outcomes:
Learn about the value of developing a personalized strategic plan to advance their academic success
Recognize the importance of developing negotiation strategies to advance as research leaders in their countries
Develop strategies to say no and manage their time to advance their academic careers
Panel Discussion Program:
Chairs: Thomas Bice, MD, MSc; Juliana C. Ferreira, MD, PhD, ATSF
Developing and Executing Your Personal Strategic Plan
This talk will focus on the importance of Identifying and defining personal values, purpose, developing measurable goals and implement a personalized strategic plan to advance research careers in LMICs
Juliana Ferreira, MD, MECOR Latin America
Negotiation Skills and Strategies for Career Success
This talk will address the importance of developing negotiation skills to become a leader in research and discuss a strategies and resources to become a better negotiator in LMICs
Refiloe Masekela, MD, MECOR Africa
Time Management for Early Career Researchers in LMICs
This talk will discuss the importance of setting priorities, learn to say no and manage your time to become successful in academic careers
Ozge Yilmaz, MD, MECOR Turkey
Monday, May 22
Buenos Dias ATS: Challenges to Access Spirometry in Post COVID-19 Era* 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
* This panel discussion is organized in partnership with the Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT) and Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR).
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Buenos Dias ATS: Challenges to Access Spirometry in Post COVID-19 Era*
Description: The session will showcase the latest data on access to spirometry in Latin America and Spain after the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to evaluate potential areas for improvement and suggest strategies to enhance access to spirometry, thus improving the diagnosis of respiratory illnesses. The presentation will highlight the obstacles in conducting lung function tests, such as shortage of supplies, equipment, trained personnel, and low provider knowledge of spirometry interpretation. It will also broaden the scope to encompass lung function measurements in Latin America.
Spirometry is a fundamental pulmonary function test in respiratory medicine and crucial for diagnosing asthma, COPD (the two most common conditions), and interstitial lung diseases. Given the limitations in access to spirometry for the population and healthcare providers in Latin America and Spain, it is important to implement corrective measures. This session will compare and contrast access to spirometry in Latin America and Spain and its impact on underdiagnosis of respiratory diseases. The objective is to identify opportunities for collaboration to enhance access to spirometry in the regions.
Panel Discussion Program:
Chairs: Francisco Arancibia, MD
Diagnosis COPD and Asthma in Settings with Limited Resources: The Big Picture in LA
This talk focuses on the challenges in diagnosing COPD and asthma in resource-constrained settings in Latin America. The discussion will highlight the barriers to access spirometry, a key pulmonary function test in respiratory medicine, and its impact on underdiagnosis of these respiratory diseases. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue and identify opportunities for improvement.
Adrián Rendon, Mexico
Reality of the Use of Spirometry During Pandemic
This talk explores the current situation of spirometry usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation will highlight the challenges faced in conducting lung function tests, such as shortages of supplies, equipment, and trained personnel, as well as the impact on diagnosis and treatment of respiratory illnesses. The discussion will provide insights into the realities of spirometry usage during these difficult times and offer solutions for improving access to this crucial test.
Patricia Schonffeldt, Chile
Challenges for Performing Post-Pandemic Spirometry
This talk focuses on the difficulties in conducting spirometry post-COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion will outline the challenges faced, such as availability of equipment, supplies, and trained technicians, as well as the impact on the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory illnesses. The goal of the talk is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges in performing spirometry after the pandemic and offer solutions for overcoming them.
Francisco García Rio, Spain
Panel Discussion and QA
* This panel discussion is organized in partnership with the Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT) and Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR).
Creating High-Value Care for Pulmonary and Critical Care in Low and Middle-Income Country Settings 1 - 2 p.m.
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Creating High-Value Care for Pulmonary and Critical Care in Low and Middle-Income Country Settings
Description: The burden of lung disease and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries is high, and resources—both diagnostic and therapeutic—are limited. Among many competing priorities, it is difficult to identify which resources represent the best value in terms of achieving meaningful outcomes on an individual and population level. This session will present a framework for evaluating high-value care in pulmonary and critical care medicine generally, and then will examine high-value care in specific circumstances: critical care, asthma, and the training of subspecialists. Finally, the session will examine lessons learned regarding deployment of resources during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many clinical practice guidelines are developed in high resource settings and are not applicable to resource limited settings due to lack of or affordability of medications, consumables, equipment, or training. Developing a framework for how to choose when resources are limited and identifying how to translate guidelines to these settings is crucial.
Learning Outcomes:
Describe frameworks for defining high value care
Provide country-specific examples in specific disease contexts
Panel Discussion Program:
Chairs: Neil W. Schluger, MD; Deborah A Haisch, MD
High-Value Care for Chronic Lung Disease—Maximizing Asthma Care With Limited Resources
This talk will describe the burden of asthma in Nigeria and other African countries, and propose value-based interventions that can be implemented immediately.
Dr. Obianuju Ozoh, MBBS, FMCP, MSc, ATSF, University of Lagos and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
High-Value Care in the Intensive Care Unit in a Limited Resource Setting— What Makes Sense?
This talk will describe the spectrum of critical illness in low- and middle-income countries and identify interventions that can improve outcomes in areas of limited resources
Elizabeth Riviello, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Amplifying the Impact of a Small Subspecialist Workforce to Improve Lung Health
This talk will describe the impact of training a relatively small group of subspecialists in pulmonary and critical care medicine on overall delivery of specialty services in Ethiopia
Aschalew Worku, MD, Tikur Anbessa (Black Lion) Specialized Hospital/Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Panel Discussion and QA
Tuesday, May 23
Rethinking Infectious Disease Transmission: Aerobiology and Its Impact on TB and COVID-19 Airborne Transmission and Environmental Controls 2 - 3 p.m.
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Rethinking Infectious Disease Transmission: Aerobiology and Its Impact on TB and COVID-19 Airborne Transmission and Environmental Controls
Description: Recent advances in Aerobiology have dramatically altered our understanding of Infectious Disease transmission. This session will focus on airborne transmission of serious infectious diseases. Major advances in aero biology and air disinfection technology, the impact of climate change on transmission of infectious diseases such as TB and COVID-19, and the key recommendations form the new airborne isolation guidelines will be discussed.
Understanding COVID-19 transmission has been instrumental in designing public health policies and interventions. This session is designed to impart the state-of-the-art in Aerobiology.
Learning Outcomes:
Describe new advances in the understanding of factors that lead to airborne transmission of TB and COVID-19
Describe the effects of global warming on the transmission of airborne infectious diseases
Describe the key recommendations from the new airborne isolation guidelines for tuberculosis
Panel Discussion Program:
Chairs: Sundari R. Mase, MD; David M. Lewinsohn, MD, PhD, ATSF
Major Advances in the Understanding of Airborne Transmission and Its Implications for Air Disinfection Technology
Advances in the understanding of airborne transmission of and air disinfection technology for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and COVID-19 will be presented.
Kevin Fennelly, MD, NIH NHLBI, Bethesda, MD
The Effect of Global Warming on Airborne Transmission of Infectious Diseases
A presentation on the effects of climate change on the transmission of serious airborne infectious diseases
Ed Nardell, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Update on Airborne Isolation Guidelines for Tuberculosis
An update will be presented on the new National TB Controller’s Association “Guidelines for Airborne Isolation for Tuberculosis”
Joe Burzynski MD, Director, TB Control Program at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Panel Discussion and QA
Global Airborne Hazards Abound: Exploring Neglected Environmental and Occupational Exposures on Human Health and Climate Change 3 - 4 p.m.
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Global Airborne Hazards Abound: Exploring Neglected Environmental and Occupational Exposures on Human Health and Climate Change
Description: Airborne hazards pose a global threat to the environment, to lung health, and risk worsening climate change. Some of these airborne hazards are man-made and include brick kiln pollutants and burn pit emissions in war zones. Others are naturally occurring, like wildfire smoke. Occupational exposures to these airborne hazards pose a major health threat to workers, may it be kiln workers, fire fighters or military personnel. This session aims to provide an overview of these three major airborne hazards, discuss the epidemiology and identify potential approaches to mitigate these exposures from a health perspective.
Objectives:
Raise awareness of global airborne hazards that affect the environment and lung health.
Provide a state-of-the-art summary of the epidemiology of brick kiln, wildfire and burn pit pollution.
Identify potential strategies to protect worker health and mitigate environmental impacts.
A discussion from panelists on challenges and future directions to address global airborne hazards.
Panel Discussion Program:
Chairs: Laura Nicolaou, PhD; William Checkley, MD, PhD
Overview of Global Airborne Hazards That Affect the Air We Breathe
This talk will provide an overview of the burden of brick kiln, wildfire and burn pit pollution and introduce the three speakers.
Dr. William Checkley
Brick Kiln Pollution as a Threat to the Environment and Worker Health in South Asia
South Asia is undergoing rapid urbanization, and construction is ranked as its third largest economic sector. This has created a demand for cheap labor and a reduction in incentives for clean and socially responsible brick production. Unskilled workers, many of whom are children, work in unhealthy and unsafe conditions in poorly regulated brick kilns. Communities in the 150,000 brick kilns in South Asia have an estimated 4.4-5.2 million workers who are not only exposed to high concentrations of respirable silica, but also other hazardous pollutants generated by combustion of solid fuels to fire the bricks. Brick kilns are also a leading cause of ambient air pollution in many parts of South Asia. This talk will aim to provide a summary of both the environmental and health threats of brick kiln pollution to kiln workers and the larger community.
Dr. Laura Nicolaou
Wildfires and their effects on lung health and climate change
Wildfires are a major environmental threat throughout the western United States, and in the southern regions of Canada, Europe, and Australia. Wildfires are naturally occurring phenomena that when they become uncontrolled cause significant increases in community exposure to particulate matter, noxious gases, and other complex hydrocarbons. They are also an important source of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. In turn, Wildfires are expected to worsen with climate change creating a vicious cycle. Wildland firefighters are significantly exposed to wildfire pollution, which is known to affect lung function and increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, yet many workers lack or do not use adequate personal protection. This talk will put the dangers wildfires to the environment and the health workers and the community at large into context and discuss the role of climate change on the wildfire season.
Prof. John Balmes
Burn Pit Exposures as an Underrecognized Airborne Hazard
More than 3.7 million US military personnel have participated in operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan since 1990. Individuals who served in this region were likely to have been exposed to several airborne hazards, including emissions from open burn pits. Burn pits have been widely used in combat zones to dispose of waste including trash, plastics, wood, metal, paints, solvents, munitions, and medical and human waste. Burn pit emissions can include harmful particulates and chemicals including dioxins, furans, lead, mercury, volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Exposure to emissions from burn pits has been a cause for concern because of the potential for respiratory health conditions and other chronic health conditions. Epidemiologic evidence of adverse health effects from burn pits exposure has been lacking until recently. This talk will provide the most recent evidence linking burn pit pollution to health and discuss future policy implications.
Prof. Cecile Rose
Questions and Answers
Open question and answer forum and allow the panel to share their perspectives on fielded questions.
Panel discussion (Dr. Nicolaou, Dr. Checkley, Prof. Balmes, Prof. Rose)
The American Thoracic Society improves global health by advancing research, patient care, and public health in pulmonary disease, critical illness, and sleep disorders. Founded in 1905 to combat TB, the ATS has grown to tackle asthma, COPD, lung cancer, sepsis, acute respiratory distress, and sleep apnea, among other diseases.
